Shoulder Pain

Treatment to help with frozen shoulder, tendonitis, arthritic pain and other causes of shoulder pain:

Shoulder problems often result in a painful arc of movement when trying to raise the arm out to the side. Everyday activities become difficult, as in reaching up to place something on a shelf or in trying to put a coat on. Pain may be felt over the tip of the shoulder and the arm may feel weak.

There are a number of reasons why your shoulder may be causing you problems, including tendinitis and rotator cuff tears. The supporting muscles and tendons of the shoulder can become impinged in the joint, making it increasingly difficult to move the arm without pain.

Problems often develop due to a rounded shoulder posture, which changes the position of the shoulder blade, stressing the tendons and causing them to become ‘trapped’.

How it can be treated

Firstly the cause of your shoulder pain needs to be ascertained

Your posture is assessed, looking at the alignment of the neck and upper back, in relation to the position of the shoulders

Gentle manual osteopathic techniques are used to articulate the joints of the vertebral column, to help balance the curves of the cervical and thoracic spine.

This treatment helps to position the shoulders in a more neutral position and to take tension away from the muscles and tendons

The key to successful treatment is looking at the underlying causes of the problem and not simply addressing the symptoms or ‘rubbing the painful bits’. The body is treated as ‘a whole’, rather than treating the shoulder in isolation.

Benefits of the treatment

The treatment has minimal side effects compared to pain killers and anti – inflammatory medications. It is also aimed at treating the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms. Treatment is non-invasive and could prevent the need for surgical intervention.

What to expect

There may well be increased feeling of soreness post treatment. This is to be expected as the body adjusts to treatment and the natural inflammatory, healing process takes place. It is a misconception that inflammation should be suppressed and the situation may get worse before it gets better. Recovery is also a process that happens over time; therefore, it is realistic to expect resolution of the problem to occur with a course of treatment.

This may well require 6 treatments over a six week period or more. It is vital to be realistic about what can be achieved in terms of pain reduction and return to function. The aim is to gain lasting results and not quick fixes. Adherence to treatment needs to be followed to reach the end goal. Don’t be surprised if ‘it doesn’t work’, if you don’t stick the course. Some activities may need to be modified in the short term to allow the tissues to heal. Specific exercises may also be prescribed to assist in the recovery process.

Pricing

MILES COWAN

Miles is a dual qualified Osteopath and Podiatrist. He has lived in Dorset for many years and works in Shaftesbury. He trained as an osteopath at the British School of Osteopathy in London and as a podiatrist at the University of Southampton and has over 15 years of clinical experience. Read more

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I wish I had gone to see Miles years ago!

I wish I had gone to see Miles years ago! The tendinitis in my shoulder was stopping me from enjoying life. It’s wonderful to be able to do the gardening without that nagging pain… – Rosie, Shaftesbury.

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